Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-31
DAHY HERALD.
TS~ Ti1g q she Empress Jese-
TTROM THE GERMAN ]

= phine.
TvRoM THE 0ERMAN.]
n vas the 23d of July, 1874, during
f2,e terrible period of the French revo-
luton. The Reign Of Terror was llv-
7n~ il last hours. In one OF the DARK
urIsons Of the old Luxemburg Cha
Dan was seated young woman, her
bsautiful ewes red from weeping, and
her head leaning thoughtiully on her
6and. It was Josephine Beau
hnrnais, who had that same morn
ne become q widow. On the |
s2oze floor of her cell, wet with tears,
lay the last letter OF her husband,
Cen. Beauharnais, in which he bade |
7nsr farewell before departing for the |
insatiable guillotine. Her crime con- |
sisted in having wished to save him,
md this was enough to procure her a |
.lpath on the glillotine also. She
summoned up her courage; the Terri
bic had now no more terror for her. |
Tomorrow, tomorrow, perhaps, all
would be over.
Suddenly, as if not wanting to lose
this favorable moment, she drew her
mothers ring from her finger, kissed
It again and again with tears, and ex-
claimed: "You shall not fall into
the hands Of the executioner. will
surely be able to find some place here
where YOU can be buried" She ex-
anained the floor, and soon perceiving
= loose stone, lifted it up and buried
the ring in the dust which lay in the
cavity; then she closed the hiding
place carefully again.
But Josephine's fate did not conduct
her to the guillotine. Four days later
che Reign Of Terror ceased with the
fsll Of Robespierre, and the prison
doors were opened. Two years had
mot passed before the vet handsome
widow gave her hand to young Cen
eral Of rising military glory-Napoleon
Bonaparte. A few weeks later she
was the proud witness of the triumphs
which were celebrated in Italy in
honor of her husband, the hero of in
Vulnerable brilliant victories. Then
came the 18th Brumaire; Napoleon
was proclaimed Consul; his residence
was the Chateau of Luxemburg.
Josephine remembered her hidden
ring. 1t was treasure for her which
chained her to the past. Bonaparte
accompanied her to the cell where
she had become a widow. The stone
was easily found, and Josephine soon
held up the ring of her mother with a
cry of Joy. The wife of Consul Bona
psxte was proud of Nine. de Beau
harnais. She placed the precious
souvenir on her finger, by the side of
Napoleon's wedding ring, Years
passed. Josephine had become En-
press. She sat beside one Of the con-
ouerors of the world, on the most
powerful throne of the universe. The
war with Austria stood again on the
threshold, and Napoleon came to take
leave Of the Empress before starting
ON the campaign. He kissed her
noble forehead, he pressed her hand.
MADAME" he suddenly exclaimed
in astonishment and displeasure, as
he raised the third finger Of her hand
"where is your ring?"
Startled and Mortified at his harsh
tones, Josephine glanced hastily at
her hand and to her surprire and dis
fress saw that her wedding ring had dis
appeared = inexplicably disappeared.
Search was made, but in vain not a
trace of it could be discovered. Vexed
and morose. the Emperor bade his
weeping wife farewell and left, to re-
turn again conqueror-with a prin-
cess ., his bride.
But where was Josephine's ring
Repeatedly was it searched for; every
corner thoroughly examined; but its
fate remained hidden in mystery uI
to the time of Josephine's death
which occurred at the moment hel
husbands star sank the long lost rinl
having then no further significance fol
her. Thirty years had passed by
Napoleon was no more. He expired
On the 9TH of May, 1921. His son was
dead also. The inheritor of the claims
to the dynasty, Louis Napoleon, was {
fugitive in London. His hopes were
extinct to look forward to the future
seemed to him to be quite useless
effort of Datieuce, s. r Y
One evening at an entertainment II,
was introduced to young and beauti
full Spanish lady, the Countess Eugeni,
di Montijo. This lively and agreeable
young girl attracted him greatly, ant
he showed her marked attention which
it was quite evident she received witt
~ much pleasure as it was rendered
During the evening the prince OBJ
served with astOnishment a weddin,
ring on her finger, and could not re
frain from a remark about this strang'
ornament for a young girl. TIL,
countess unhesitatingly related thu
story of the ring. During the cours'
Of her recital the prince became great
" excited and interested.
Eugene had received the ring as I,
present from her mother, who, wher
y little girl, came into possession o
the same in the strangest manner.
In the year 1909 the Count di Mon
tito lived at Paris as French officer
His daughter, Eugenie's mother, was
accustomed, when the weather was
favorable, to play in the Tuilleries in
the afternoon under the surveillance
of her governess. One day on the way
hOlne the three-year-old child
showed her a small gold
hoop which she said had
been given her by little boy with
whom she had been playing in the
sand. The governess Immediately
returned to the park, but not the
slightest trace of the child could be
discovered, either that day or the sub
sequent one. So it remained in the
little girls possession among her
other jewelry, and when she grew to
womanhood she married an uncle,
and on the 9Th of May, 1926, Eugenie
first saw the light of day.
(, As souvenir Of this event she had
the date Of the 9Th of May engraved in
the ring. for which she felt peculiar
yeneration; and Eugene had worn the
same since her confirmation, as a
precious souvenir of her mother. The
Spanish lady drew the circlet from her
finger and handed it to the Prince.